Maddy West and the Tongue Taker

July 1, 2014

Gr 3-7-Nine-and-a-half-year-old Maddy West can understand and speak any language she hears. Somebody wants that talent enough to kidnap her. That was how Maddy found herself sitting on rotten steps, in a locked basement in a creepy old house in Bulgaria, wondering how to escape. She had traveled to Bulgaria with Professor Coateloch to help translate some ancient documents. It turns out the documents are evil spells and the professor a witch who wants to take over the world. Maddy and her faithful friend Kazuki, a ninja-in-training, join forces with Mr. Chestnut the monkey and his owner Dimitar, to foil the evil witch's plans. Maddy's travels without her parents require suspension of disbelief, as does the witch's plan for taking over the world, but the story moves quickly. Maddy and Kazuki are authentic enough, and though the magic is stereotyped and a bit heavy handed at the end, it is well placed to cause shivers of fear and delight. This is a better than average fantasy adventure that will appeal to fans of Tony Abbot and Geronimo Stilton.-Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2014
As a "talker of tongues," 9-year-old Maddy West has the astonishing and enviable ability to speak and read any language. While most people are simply amazed by her ability, there are those who would like to exploit her talent. When professor Coateloch, a linguist, asks Maddy to translate ancient scrolls in an island monastery on the Black Sea, her parents see dollar signs rather than danger signs. Maddy soon finds that the professor's interest in her ability is far from academic. Thankfully, Maddy is as adept at making friends as she is at communicating. Along with her ninjalike neighbor, Kazuki, Maddy gains the help of Bulgarian wrestler Dimitar the Giant and his crafty monkey, Mr. Chester. And Maddy will need all the help she can get if she is going to defeat the professor (aka the Chocolate Witch) and thwart her plans for world domination. While Maddy's magical ability is impressive, she really shines in her normal human moments of compassion, forgiveness and acceptance. A river of cockroaches, a wild car ride and age-appropriate humor all come together in this magical adventure. Unfortunately, the rushed ending fails to address some of the deeper emotional issues. On balance, warm and magical. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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